Monday, July 28, 2014

PIF leaders should discuss West Papua at its Koror Summit

The 45th Pacific Islands Forum and related meetings will be held from 29 July to 1 August 2014 in Koror, the Republic of Palau.

AWPA urges the PIF to discuss the human rights situation in West Papua at its Summit in Palau. It also urges the PIF leaders to make a public statement of concern regarding the human rights situation in the territory in its official communiqué as did the MSG leaders did in their official communiqué in Noumea in 2013.

AWPA also call on the PIF to urge the new Indonesian President to release all West Papuan political prisoners unconditionally as a sign of good faith to the West Papuan people.

Joe Collins of AWPA said “West Papua is the one territory in the Pacific where the deteriorating human rights situation could lead to instability in the region. The Forum leaders should be concerned about this and do all they can to help resolve this conflict”. AWPA believes the PIF can play an important role in helping facilitate a dialogue between genuine representatives of the West Papuan leadership and the Indonesian Government.